Funnel



March 29 1927.

P. T. M U RPHY FUNNEL Filed Nov- 9 1925 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FUN NEL.

Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,804.

This invention relates to tunnels, and lnore especially to that type which is adapted to the measuring and dispensing of semi-liquid substances.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a funnel from which materials may be dispensed in prearrang-ed quantities and served to the consumer.

A second object is to provide a funnel from which a plurality of substances may be measured and dispensed, or one such substance, at the option of the operator.

A third object is to provide a funnel which is also a supply-container for substances which are to be dispensed at intervals, and to preserve such substances at the required temperature until so dispensed.

To these ends, I have designed a relatively large funnel, partitioned immediate its diameter, surrounded by a spaced jacket, supported by a framed stand, and provided with double-acting valves and measuring receptacle, whereby ice cream, sherbet or other similar substance may be selectively drawn trom either side of said partition, measured in said receptacle and dispensed therefrom by the operation of said valves into a serving cup or glass.

In the drawing, which consists ot a single sectional side view, the numeral l designates the jacket, 2 an inlet-valve thereto, 3 an outlet-valve theretrom, 4 the funnel, 4a and 4b compartments therein, 5 a partition bisecting said funnel, 6 and 14 valves connected by a lever 10 to 12 a banded supporting-arm by 9 and 11 pivots, and provided with 7, 8 and 15 ports in said valves, the whole supported by 17 a stand. The numeral 1G represents the serving-cup, glass or other receptacle into which is discharged the substance to be dispensed.

In use, the jacket 1 is filled with cracked ice from the open top or with a cooling brine by way of the inlet-valve 2, the compartments 4, 4b supplied with ice cream, sherbet or other substance, the valve-lever 10 being in a vertical position which closes the outlets from both compartments by positioning the port-s 7, 8 where they are inoperative. To serve the substance from the compartment 4l the valve 6 is moved to the position shown in the drawing, wherebythe port 7 serves as an outlet for said compartment and the measuring receptacle 13 is illed whereupon the valve-lever 10 is returned to a nearly vertical position, which closes the `port 7 and opens the port 15, allowing the measured A substance to be discharged into the servingcup 16. For dispensing from the compartment 4b, the valve-lever 10 is operated so as to push the valve 6 to its fullest extent, closing the port 15 thereby and opening the port 8 and returning the valve-lever 10 to a vertical position for the discharge of the measured substance into 16.

When a cooling-brine is used instead of cracked ice, or, if a heating fluid is to be used, the outlet-valve 3 may be connected with such supply of either, by a conduit (not shown), in order to provide a circulation of such cooling or heating medium; otherwise, the outlet-valve 3 is serviceable for cleaning purposes.

Although primarily designed for the storing, measuring and dispensing of refrigerated substances, this invention is equally serviceable in the handling of hot chocolate, soups and beverages which are preferably served at a higher temperature. Alterations in the relative dimensions of the members, in the construction of the valves, and other variations of the device, which is here shown and described in its preferred construction, may be made without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a measuring and dispensing tunnel, a downwardly tapering receptacle provided with a vertical partition forming compartments in said receptacle, said tunnel terminating in a measuring receptacle, said measuring receptacle being provided with sliding valves extending horizontally therethrough near the top and bottom thereof` said partition terminating at the upper of said valves, a jacket for a temperature regulating medium surrounding said funnel, said valves being provided with ports and controlled by a lever, bv the operation of which lever said ports may be selectively opened or closed and portions of the contents of either funnel-compartment drawn into and discharged from said measuring receptacle, and a supporting-trame for said device.

2. In a storing, measuring and dispensing device, a funnel provided with a partition vertically therein, said funnel terminating in a measuring receptacle therebelow, said measuring receptacle being provided with sliding valves extending horizontally therethrough near the top and bottom of said measuring receptacle, said partition termi- CTI hating at the uppel` of said valves, the Suid upper valve containing two ports and the lower valve @single port, said valves being controlled by a valve-lever supported by an arm extending from said measuring reeep` taele, by the operation of which lever either of seid upper valve-ports may be selectively opened while the lower one is closed and both upper valve-ports closed While the l0 lower valve-Dort is open, thus making it possible to selectively draw from either side of the partition in said funnel-member a portion of its contents into said measuring receptacle and to discharge the same therefrom into a dispensing-receptacle, and the whole device supported by ay suitable frame therefor.

In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my signature.

PIERCE T. MURPHY. 

